Posts tagged "Libra"

Duality: As Within So Without

The energy of this 4-5 degrees’ Gemini New Moon puts both luminaries strongly under the influence of the decidedly mutable archetypal sign often depicted as twins and therefore representative of duality.

Inherent in Gemini is an archetypal split that mirrors back to us this concept of duality.

The earliest stories set down in writing, as far back in history as we can remember, recount tales of brother vs. brother (think Cain and Abel), good vs. evil (think God vs. the Devil), dark vs. light (think night vs. day), and more…

The messenger god Mercury, ruler of this Gemini New Moon, is also the god of travelers and therefore often depicted at crossroads, or places where one has the choice to travel left or right, north or south, east or west.

Able to transport himself between worlds—that of the living and the dead, as well as to Mt. Olympus, home of the gods and goddesses in Greek mythology—Mercury’s a solid representation not only of metaphorical duality but of the kind with which we deal daily.

In addition to twins, Mercury rules pairs, such as hands, feet, lungs, etc. Mercury’s talents extend to sleight of hand and magic tricks, such as shell games you find out on the street in major cities like New York. For that (in part) he’s earned the reputation of a trickster, or one who loves to pull pranks on people or to confuse them mentally.

The Bigger Picture

Of the three rational air signs—Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius—it’s Gemini that’s most prone to the downside of mutable energy: confusion.

I always picture Geminian energy run amuck as a dog chasing his tail. Spend a moment or two imagining or visualizing such a scene, and I’m sure you’ll get what I mean…he doesn’t know if he’s coming or going and, eventually, he loses sight of what he was doing as the round and round makes him both forgetful and dizzy…

In similar fashion, those who carry a large amount of Gemini energy, or at times like a Gemini New Moon, may find it difficult to recognize the forest from the trees, so to speak.

We have a choice at this Gemini New Moon: we may plant a seed of confusion–or one of understanding.

Understanding what?

That it’s the bits and pieces of information which, if we allow ourselves to view them as a confusing conglomeration of disconnected, differentiated, and potentially disorienting separates with no inter-connected meaning, will never show us a coherent bigger picture that makes sense to us.

If, however, we can realize through Sagittarius, Gemini’s polar opposite, that those seemingly simple and disparate bits of information are really part of a larger, whole picture, we may begin to gain enough perspective to see and understand the larger tapestry…

Set If Off

Let’s keep in mind that this Gemini New Moon is not only highly mutable, but also unaspected. However, it is decidedly not alone…

What stands out most clearly to me at this Gemini New Moon is the rising tension building as Mars approaches an opposition to Saturn. In traditional astrology, these are the two malefics, the baddest of the bad boys.

But even if we take a more modern psychological view on the subject of these two planets in frictional aspect to one another in the sky—as I am wont to do-there’s a whole lot of growing frustration…

What we’ve had brewing, leading up to today’s Gemini New Moon, is a waxing mutable T-square between Mars in Gemini opposite Saturn in Sagittarius and squaring Chiron in Pisces.

Mars’ approach to Saturn and square to Chiron has been building in tension for more than a week now. On May 18, when the Moon in Aquarius approached its monthly meetup with the South Node, newly in Aquarius, the Taurus Sun waxed into a square with the transiting Nodes, designators of collective karma.

At the same time, Mars came within 10 degrees of its opposition to Saturn and square to Chiron. This astrologer doesn’t get crazy about orbs, or insist that planets must be within a certain degree range before they can influence human nature. Rather, she observes…When Mars, the faster moving planet, shifts into frictional aspect with Saturn, always it holds the capability for ignition, or the potential to set off an explosion.

On May 18, 26-year-old Richard Rojas drove his maroon Honda Accord 100 miles an hour through midtown Manhattan, jumped the curb at 42nd Street & Seventh Avenue, and raced at breakneck speed along the sidewalk for three blocks running over anyone and anything in his path.

Traveling “at a fast rate of speed,” according to bystander, “to me it looked like it was trying to hit as many people as possible. People were trying to jump out of the way.”

In Rojas’ path was 18-year-old Elyssa Elsman of Portage, Michigan, her 13-year-old sister, and 21 others. Elyssa was killed before Rojas’ car upended after crashing into a road barrier on 45th Street and Broadway, near the midtown Marriot Marquis Hotel.

“She just hit the floor and he went over her,” a nearby security guard told A New York Times’ reporter.

When taken into custody, police determined Rojas was high on PCP and delusional (and not an international terrorist.) He reportedly told police he’d “wanted people to die.”

Between A Rock & A Hard Place

As Mars continued to wax into frictional aspect with Saturn and Chiron, we saw another example of this energy’s potential for violence when a suicide bomber killed 22 people and wounded 59 others at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, on May 22.

The tension continues to build at this Gemini New Moon as Mars moves fast through Gemini, and Saturn in Sagittarius holds tightly to his religious and/or philosophical ideology.

Saturn is lead, or the rock, Mars the hard place in which we may find

ourselves squirming uncomfortably as frustration over any given situation in our lives continues to build.

Meanwhile, Chiron in Pisces cries I’m hurt! Leave me alone! I just want to escape and fantasize about a better world—one where I’m rewarded through the retribution of those who are/were the cause of my suffering.

Strapping a bomb loaded with nails to yourself and detonating in it in the name of a cause is indicative of the lowest form of energies inherent in this still waxing T-square.

As Mars approaches exact opposition to Saturn on May 28/29 (depending on your location), it can make us feel like we’re between a rock and a hard place as the tension caused by this opposition comes to ahead and pops like a pimple or a boil.

Those of us with planets and/or angles caught in this T-square’s energy are being asked to look at any trauma ignited now as a “replay” of past trauma, be

it from this lifetime or past life karma…

Only then can we begin to figure out how to heal—or continue to heal— such traumas.

I Am Not Your Rolling Wheels…

Duality…in the crossroad walkway connecting the Manchester arena and the local train station, a suicide bomber detonated himself at the end of an Ariana Grande concert filled with young people.

Gemini represents youth. This archetype is sometimes referred to as the puer aeternus, or the Peter Pan energy of one who resists growing up, preferring instead to remain eternally young.

Mars is always about taking action, regardless of what kind or its potential outcome, and often represents anything heated, such as bombs, guns, fire, blades, etc.

Saturn in Sagittarius—the sign of belief systems—is lead, or heavy metal, while Chiron, the wounded healer, in Pisces can symbolize an energy apt to weep pity me, I’m a victim, woe to me, how can I bear this terrible suffering?

When I synthesize these mutable energies, I get the image of one who is among, shall we say, the “walking wounded.” An individual who, rather than try to heal his own wounds by going out and helping others heal, feels he has no choice but to sacrifice himself in order to alleviate whatever mortal pain he’s in.

What great irony that someone angry about victimization (Chiron in Pisces) packed himself with explosives made of metal nails in the name of a religious cause (Saturn in Sadge) and set alight a bomb that targeted young people near a place of local transportation.

You can’t make this sh#t up…☹

…I Am The Highway

So, what will be ignited at this Gemini New Moon or shortly thereafter? I believe we need only look at the world around us to become conscious of what’s mirrored back.

Saturn always asks us to be our own best parent, while Chiron asks us to heal the split between our more primitive nature and physical bodies, and our cognitive capabilities and spiritual knowing.

This growing opposition and square from Mars is the match–however, what we do with that flame is up to us!

My recommendation is to use whatever ignites now as a torch to light your way to greater consciousness about issues that surround you so that you may more clearly see how to heal for your future…

What’s wounded you in terms of past restrictions or abandonment in your life? Where or how might you have turned such wounding into the kind of victim stance that prevents you from taking right and appropriate action and/or keeps you stuck in preferring either to be saved by–or to save–another or others?

Mars square Chiron is about how your personal will was stifled and/or you were prevented from taking action. While on the surface, both Mars’ aspects to Saturn and Chiron may translate into similarly wounding pasts, the challenge with the aspect to Chiron is for us to be able to discover where we are all brothers and sisters under the skin and to develop compassion for both ourselves and our perpetrators, whether their sins were of commission or omission…

Once we recognize the humanity of our past traumatic situations, we can view them less from the point of view of a “victim” or “savior,” and more from that of one who recognizes we’re all human. After all, it’s healthier to grieve, heal, and move on, than to carry the torch of our past suffering with us everywhere we go…

Another opportunity is presented to us by the fact that Mars is waxing into a sextile to Uranus at this Gemini New Moon, which provides the chance for us to see more clearly as well through sudden insights that strike with lightning bolt clarity.

Use these insights well—they may be secrets surfacing or resurfacing or simple facts about which you were previously unaware—and they may come out through an argument with another or others, we don’t know…

What we do know is that the opportunity is always there to make lemonade out of lemons!

Long & Weary My Road Has Been

The inexplicable senselessness of terrorist incidents (whether in the name of a “cause” or due to mental health issues) in the end highlights for us all that–for better or for worse–we are all traveling the same road toward consciousness.

The fact that some deny this journey by veering off onto a more delusional path is likewise inexplicably sad, especially when they have the sheer unmitigated gall to inflict pain upon innocents. For all those affected by the recent events outlined above, as well as those going through their own personal tragedies, I extend my sincerest condolences and send out to all light and love… Like many others, I choose the path about which the late great John Lennon wrote–to imagine all the people living life in peace…

Here’s a look at an Audioslave song/video of the late Chris Cornell’s which I feel reflects nicely his Sadge Moon opposite Mars & Venus in Gemini’s understanding of duality…(if you’ve never heard him before, stick with it as the vocal gets better as it goes–he’s one of the great voices of rock n’ roll & will be sorely missed…)

May he, and all victims everywhere, be their deaths self-imposed or otherwise, rest in peace…

Gemini Full Moon: Super Moon Super Important?

Full Moons are often a time of release, and this Gemini Full Moon is no different.

However, it’s interesting to note that this one is the third and final full super moon of the year. The first two occurred just last month and the month before (with November 14’s Taurus Full Moon and October 15’s Aries Full Moon, respectively.)

In all honesty, I’ve not paid much attention to super full moons, as I saw them simply as an astronomical occurrence during which the Moon’s orbit brings it closest to Earth (known as perigee.)

Looking back now, though, I don’t think it would be wildly inappropriate as an astrologer for me to infer that the Moon’s movement closest to Earth during these past three lunar cycles is NOT an accident. Nor do I think it should remain, on my part at least, without mention.

Therefore, I believe the bigger picture of what we’ve been called to “see” during these past three months when the Moon coincidentally placed itself so brightly in our pathway (the months leading up to and directly following theNovember 8 U.S. presidential election) is focused on “truth…”

The True Wellspring Of “Truth”

The Sun’s current passage through the sign of Sagittarius highlights for us all the issue of our higher truths. Yes, Sadge archetypal energy is about long distance travel, higher education, religion, and law, but always I bottom line archetypes down to what I believe are their true core essences…

What is the essence of Sagittarius?

Basically, it’s what we all—both individually and as a collective—believe to be “the truth.” Such “truths” often draw their inspiration from a more divine source, as Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter the king of the gods, whose home is high above the earth on Mount Olympus.

So, a divinely inspired “truth,” such as that transmitted directly from God to Moses at Mt. Sinai, to Jesus prior to his crucifixion, and to Mohammed from the messenger archangel Gabriel, is what we’re talkin’ about here…

Whether these religious stories are real or apocryphal is less relevant than whether they archetypally represent the notion that our deeper truths come from our soul because our souls are automatically divinely connected.

Seen in this context, religious stories depicting the receipt of messages directly from God become metaphors for the ability of every individual to hear the voice of divine truth from within…

Who’s Truth Is Truer Under This Gemini Full Moon?

Once we’re able to recognize this automatic divine connection, the next step is in choosing to believe that what we hear is real. And the best way to do this is to quiet the other voices around us as we travel ever deeper into the realm of our psyches to ascertain that which our soul truly needs and desires.

This Gemini Full Moon calls us to look at where these many outside voices may have led us astray in our search for answers to life’s deeper questions, including “what makes me truly happy?”

This downside of Gemini archetypal energy normally manifests as distraction,overwhelm, information overload, too many things coming at us too fast from too many directions, and generally circular thinking that doesn’t allow us to see, hear, or feel our deeper truths.

Any onslaught of information—be it fake news or real—runs the risk of leading us off the path toward greater consciousness. The Gemini Full Moon illustrates how we can send our energy into a mutable frenzy to such a degree that we don’t know if what we see, hear, or feel is imaginary or real.

Integration of the heart (Gemini Moon) and mind (Sagittarius Sun) is about letting go of that mutable dog-chasing-its-tail energy into which the Gemini archetype often gets lost and instead listening to the divinely-inspired voice within…

Saturn Conjunct Sun, Chiron Square Full Moon

During this Gemini Full Moon, the Sagittarius Sun is just past its conjunction to Saturn, which also opposes the Gemini Moon.

This has the potential to play out in one of two different ways, depending:

1) Saturn imbues the Sadge Sun with a certain “belief system” gravitas that’s then drawn up and out by the Moon to express—through its foundational commitment to these beliefs—our soul’s truths; or

2) Saturn weighs down, consolidates, and restricts us to a fear-based, finite “belief system,” or one that’s not open to new ideas, information, or ways of thinking and–as a result–the opportunity for expansion of consciousness is lost…

The square to this Gemini Full Moon by Chiron in Pisces reminds us there’s a wound to believing in our higher selves and to the notion that our higher self is part of the divine collective. It’s this wound we are challenged now to integrate via stilling the outside noise so we may hear the authentic voice of our higher selves.

We are each our own temple, and though many of us recognize this truth on a physical level, often we forget about it on the mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Allowing the kinds of disparate thoughts that invade our psyches to produce more harm than good, more worry than calm, more insecurity than security, only keeps us distracted from our true inner journey…

Easy Air Energy

There’s also a grand air trine between Jupiter in Libra, Mars in Aquarius, and the Gemini Moon, which means that Mars and Jupiter also sextile the Sun and Saturn. Altogether, this can aid us in moving quickly toward positive recognition of our truths or, alternatively, it can provide an easy way out of such hard work.

Air is rational thought, and it may be easy with a grand air trine (especially with fast Mars and expansive Jupiter energy involved!) to become caught up in a particular way of thinking that moves us quickly out of deep introspection and toward more mentally facile pursuits.

However, if we choose to work positively in the direction of exploring our psyches as a way to make the unconscious more conscious, this grand air trine may provide us with the capability for some outside-the-box Aquarian aha! moments. The light shed by these may illuminate the split between our rational mind’s ego orientation and that of our inner, higher, selves and thus allow us a new perspective…

What’s In It For Me?

How do we know which of our truths are keepers and which ones to jettison as we attempt to navigate this Gemini Full Moon?

Clearing the mind of chatter through meditation—sitting, moving, whatever—always helps. Recognizing synchronicities and choosing to believe they are divinely-inspired messages helps as well.

Having the conviction that your “truth” may well be true for you, but not for anyone else, goes a long way toward self-acceptance first and acceptance of others next.

Sagittarius energy calls us to recognize the negativity of “righteousness” of any one belief system over the other, while Gemini reminds us there are many different angles—or perspectives–to every thought…

In honor of Gemini Sun/Sadge Rising Bob Dylan’s recent receipt of the Nobel Prize for Literature, here’s his song A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fallwhich somehow seems fitting for this month’s Gemini Full Moon!

Or, simply read his uncannily prescient lyrics here:

“Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son
And where have you been, my darling young one
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son
And what did you see, my darling young one
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder that roared out a warnin’
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

And what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m a-goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts a-fallin’
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
And the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can s it
Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…”

Gemini Full Moon: Super Moon Super Important?

Full Moons are often a time of release, and this Gemini Full Moon is no different.

However, it’s interesting to note that this one is the third and final full super moon of the year. The first two occurred just last month and the month before (with November 14’s Taurus Full Moon and October 15’s Aries Full Moon, respectively.)

In all honesty, I’ve not paid much attention to super full moons, as I saw them simply as an astronomical occurrence during which the Moon’s orbit brings it closest to Earth (known as perigee.)

Looking back now, though, I don’t think it would be wildly inappropriate as an astrologer for me to infer that the Moon’s movement closest to Earth during these past three lunar cycles is NOT an accident. Nor do I think it should remain, on my part at least, without mention.

Therefore, I believe the bigger picture of what we’ve been called to “see” during these past three months when the Moon coincidentally placed itself so brightly in our pathway (the months leading up to and directly following theNovember 8 U.S. presidential election) is focused on “truth…”

The True Wellspring Of “Truth”

The Sun’s current passage through the sign of Sagittarius highlights for us all the issue of our higher truths. Yes, Sadge archetypal energy is about long distance travel, higher education, religion, and law, but always I bottom line archetypes down to what I believe are their true core essences…

What is the essence of Sagittarius?

Basically, it’s what we all—both individually and as a collective—believe to be “the truth.” Such “truths” often draw their inspiration from a more divine source, as Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter the king of the gods, whose home is high above the earth on Mount Olympus.

So, a divinely inspired “truth,” such as that transmitted directly from God to Moses at Mt. Sinai, to Jesus prior to his crucifixion, and to Mohammed from the messenger archangel Gabriel, is what we’re talkin’ about here…

Whether these religious stories are real or apocryphal is less relevant than whether they archetypally represent the notion that our deeper truths come from our soul because our souls are automatically divinely connected.

Seen in this context, religious stories depicting the receipt of messages directly from God become metaphors for the ability of every individual to hear the voice of divine truth from within…

Who’s Truth Is Truer Under This Gemini Full Moon?

Once we’re able to recognize this automatic divine connection, the next step is in choosing to believe that what we hear is real. And the best way to do this is to quiet the other voices around us as we travel ever deeper into the realm of our psyches to ascertain that which our soul truly needs and desires.

This Gemini Full Moon calls us to look at where these many outside voices may have led us astray in our search for answers to life’s deeper questions, including “what makes me truly happy?”

This downside of Gemini archetypal energy normally manifests as distraction,overwhelm, information overload, too many things coming at us too fast from too many directions, and generally circular thinking that doesn’t allow us to see, hear, or feel our deeper truths.

Any onslaught of information—be it fake news or real—runs the risk of leading us off the path toward greater consciousness. The Gemini Full Moon illustrates how we can send our energy into a mutable frenzy to such a degree that we don’t know if what we see, hear, or feel is imaginary or real.

Integration of the heart (Gemini Moon) and mind (Sagittarius Sun) is about letting go of that mutable dog-chasing-its-tail energy into which the Gemini archetype often gets lost and instead listening to the divinely-inspired voice within…

Saturn Conjunct Sun, Chiron Square Full Moon

During this Gemini Full Moon, the Sagittarius Sun is just past its conjunction to Saturn, which also opposes the Gemini Moon.

This has the potential to play out in one of two different ways, depending:

1) Saturn imbues the Sadge Sun with a certain “belief system” gravitas that’s then drawn up and out by the Moon to express—through its foundational commitment to these beliefs—our soul’s truths; or

2) Saturn weighs down, consolidates, and restricts us to a fear-based, finite “belief system,” or one that’s not open to new ideas, information, or ways of thinking and–as a result–the opportunity for expansion of consciousness is lost…

The square to this Gemini Full Moon by Chiron in Pisces reminds us there’s a wound to believing in our higher selves and to the notion that our higher self is part of the divine collective. It’s this wound we are challenged now to integrate via stilling the outside noise so we may hear the authentic voice of our higher selves.

We are each our own temple, and though many of us recognize this truth on a physical level, often we forget about it on the mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Allowing the kinds of disparate thoughts that invade our psyches to produce more harm than good, more worry than calm, more insecurity than security, only keeps us distracted from our true inner journey…

Easy Air Energy

There’s also a grand air trine between Jupiter in Libra, Mars in Aquarius, and the Gemini Moon, which means that Mars and Jupiter also sextile the Sun and Saturn. Altogether, this can aid us in moving quickly toward positive recognition of our truths or, alternatively, it can provide an easy way out of such hard work.

Air is rational thought, and it may be easy with a grand air trine (especially with fast Mars and expansive Jupiter energy involved!) to become caught up in a particular way of thinking that moves us quickly out of deep introspection and toward more mentally facile pursuits.

However, if we choose to work positively in the direction of exploring our psyches as a way to make the unconscious more conscious, this grand air trine may provide us with the capability for some outside-the-box Aquarian aha! moments. The light shed by these may illuminate the split between our rational mind’s ego orientation and that of our inner, higher, selves and thus allow us a new perspective…

What’s In It For Me?

How do we know which of our truths are keepers and which ones to jettison as we attempt to navigate this Gemini Full Moon?

Clearing the mind of chatter through meditation—sitting, moving, whatever—always helps. Recognizing synchronicities and choosing to believe they are divinely-inspired messages helps as well.

Having the conviction that your “truth” may well be true for you, but not for anyone else, goes a long way toward self-acceptance first and acceptance of others next.

Sagittarius energy calls us to recognize the negativity of “righteousness” of any one belief system over the other, while Gemini reminds us there are many different angles—or perspectives–to every thought…

In honor of Gemini Sun/Sadge Rising Bob Dylan’s recent receipt of the Nobel Prize for Literature, here’s his song A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fallwhich somehow seems fitting for this month’s Gemini Full Moon!

Or, simply read his uncannily prescient lyrics here:

“Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son
And where have you been, my darling young one
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son
And what did you see, my darling young one
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder that roared out a warnin’
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…

And what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m a-goin’ back out ‘fore the rain starts a-fallin’
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
And the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can s it
Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall…”

Full Moons are times of release, and this Aries Full Moon is no exception. A Full Moon occurs when the faster moving Moon opposes the Sun in the sky by 180 degrees, and reflects back to the Sun its own light and its current sign’s polar opposite archetypal energy.

In short, Full Moons can help us become conscious, or to see, the hidden unconscious shadow side of the Sun’s more ego-oriented energy. Full Moons not only grant us this opportunity every month, but also remind us there is a full archetypal range of energies inherent in these polarities that we may express however we choose.

Likewise, all Full Moons highlight a pair of archetypal polar energies joined together through opposition, in order to give us the chance to release that which no longer serves our highest and best good.

Oppositions always represent relationship in astrology, and this theme is deepened on this Aries Full Moon because Libra is the archetypal sign of partnership, while Aries represents freedom of choice, the exercising of one’s personal will, and independence.

THE LIBRAN LABYRINTH

A metaphorical Libran labyrinth may present itself when we compromise too much for the sake of peace within partnership and/or remain paralyzed by indecision.

In turn, this may cause unhappiness in the long run—an inkling of which is glimpsed through the kind of passive/aggressive behavior where we smile through gritted teeth and answer questions by saying “No, I’m fine. Really, I’m FINE.”

This Libran tendency to avoid conflict at all costs, often coupled with an exasperating indecisiveness, can be only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the dilemma we may all experience right now vis-à-vis decision making…

We’re called by this Aries Full Moon to recognize that there’s another side to Libran energy which can, in turn, guide us out of any Libran labyrinths into which we may have wandered…

YOUR OWN PERSONAL TROJAN WAR

This Aries Full Moon conjoins with Uranus, the planet of unexpected change, and Eris, the dwarf planet named for the goddess of discord. Eris is the goddess who turns up uninvited at the banquet of the gods and disrupts the jovial gathering out of spite and jealousy for having been left off the guest list.

While Uranus energy is unpredictable and often shocking, Eris manifests as an energy that instigates. In Greek mythology, it’s Eris who tosses a golden apple down the banquet table marked “for the fairest of them all,” an action that ultimately provides the spark for the Trojan War.

As this potentially explosive pair meet up with the Aries Moon and oppose the peace loving Libra Sun, it’s hardly likely to produce an outcome—whatever that may be—that’s devoid of change of some kind.

The energy of Uranus is always about forcing us to break out of any complacent rut we may be in, and to shake ourselves loose of any ingrained patterns that have made us just a tad too secure, a.k.a., stuck

Combined with Eris, however, we have an energy that’s unlikely to be pleasant. So, since the Aries Full Moon highlights the themes of partnership vs. independence, the Uranus/Eris duo may well be trying to tell us it’s seriously time for something to change, and that this change may not at first be at all welcome.

The common assumption amongst psychological astrologers is that change comes when life has become too stagnant. Uranus—often likened to the Greek figure Prometheus, known as the “great awakener”—exists to remind us that the only constant is change and that to remain the same always is to defy universal energetic law.

PRO CHOICE

In combination with this Aries Full Moon energy, we find transiting Mars moving to meet up in the sky with Pluto, while Mercury squares them both. Like Uranus/Eris next to the Aries Moon and opposite the Libra Sun, a Mars/Pluto combo can be quite explosive.

Tensions are bound to exist between ourselves and others that may result in harsh words or a kind of obsessive intransigence in terms of our thoughts and ideas.

Since Full Moons provide the opportunity for release, this one may shock us into discovering how our own ideology may mirror back to us through the opposite opinions of others who smash us in the face (metaphorically) with an opposite but just as ideological way of thinking.

Uranus/Eris opposite the Sun can manifest outside ourselves through the actions of others in sudden unpredictable events. In the end, this amounts to nothing more than projected unconscious inner energy.

When the soul is crying out for change, but the conscious ego is unaware of the soul’s true desires and attempts to cling to the status quo, change will nonetheless ultimately come.

What we often don’t recognize is that our need for change originates internally and subconsciously but that we project this need out to others who actually take the actions that cause the desired change.

Operating on an unconscious level the Mercury square to Mars/Pluto may well create further resistance to the kind of change our soul truly desires. Our conscious ego—which likes to deal only with that which it can see, hear, feel, and touch–may seek to protect our psyches at all costs from such an unwanted intrusion by the subconscious…

And the greater our suppression of our soul’s need for change, the more shocking the change will be…

MY SIGN IS NO!

The combination of all of these energies at this Aries Full Moon may result in our having to take independent action of some kind, and that action is likely to manifest through voicing our own opinions and/or making clear our individuality, on some level at least.

In other words, sometimes one simply has to take a stand.

When you boil it all down, the classic Libra indecisiveness stems from fear. Fear that by making a decision we will have made the wrong choice. Fear that we aren’t whole and always need a “better half” to complete us–whether that other half be comprised of a significant other, family member, child, friend, colleague, boss, etc.

As the Libra Sun’s light is cast in stark relief upon this Aries Full Moon, it reminds us all that taking independent action doesn’t have to come at the cost of losing the love or support of others.

This energy is nowhere more apparent than the dilemma many Americans face in the upcoming November 8 U.S. presidential election.

Astrologers are all over the internet with their predictions. I am not going to predict how the race will end, I’m only going to point out how this Aries Full Moon is throwing yet another high speed curve ball at us.

We are called to remember: “As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul.” Events on the world stage are reflections of the collective unconscious. You can’t have a collective unconscious without having individual psyches involved.

This is an argument for every vote counts and everyone can make a difference.

Though there may be many who disagree with me–and I respect everyone’s right to agree to disagree peacefully and without vitriol–I also believe with all my heart that this Aries Full Moon is sending us all a message which revolves around not clinging to “don’t make waves” energy that often becomes the embodiment of the Libra archetype.

High side Libra energy actually illustrates for us the true meaning of discourse and debate, an art sadly lost amongst our current day politicians and many members of the media and which respects the right of ALL of us to both speak and choose freely.

This Aries Full Moon says: “don’t forget to take the action of weighing your choices side by side, in a pro and con objective way, regardless of any potential shocks or conspiracy theories, and devoid of fear.

It reminds us, too, that we all have the right to hold fast to our intention to move forward independently toward peace, harmony, and love for all of our brothers and sisters regardless of color, religion, race, gender, etc.

Namaste…

Here’s a little reminder from Meghan Trainor’s song/video No! that it’s ok to do your own thing without always being in partnership…

As the Moon meets the Sun at 8 degrees Libra, this Libra New Moon bestows upon us all an excellent opportunity to do some work around the theme of relationships!

Libra is known to be a sign that has great difficulty making decisions. That’s because those who carry a good deal of Libra archetypal energy have a knack for seeing both sides of a situation.

Ergo, they are capable of understanding, sympathizing, and potentially empathizing with those who express two different sides of an argument. This can make it difficult for one who carries Libra energy to choose.

I VS. THOU

In addition, Libra energy is known as one that does not feel whole without a partner. Thus the sign’s tendency—because it is about balance, fairness, and peace—is to compromise, sometimes too much, for the sake of their partnerships.

On the flip side, however, positive Libra energy revolves around creativity, compromise, and negotiation. Many who carry Libra energy make excellent negotiators, diplomats, peacemakers, artists, etc., precisely because they can see so clearly opposite sides of the same dilemma and sense the opportunity for peace in the middle.

This Libra New Moon–which brings together the Moon and the Sun in the sky (as do all New Moons)—carries with the potential for an alignment of the heart and mind. This metaphysically portends that an ultimately successful “make love, not war” philosophy is possible.

LIBRA NEW MOON & JUPITER IN LIBRA: WHOLE LOTTA LIBRA

All roads may seem to lead to partnership this year, and the fact is that we are entering a whole new era of relationships.

However, this news isn’t necessarily all sweetness and light, as this Libra New Moon might otherwise seem to indicate. Rather, combined with Jupiter’s journey through the sign of Libra until October 12, 2017, the message is that we must watch out for Libra’s potential pitfalls.

“Relationships are only as good as any individual continues to grow in ever-evolving independence and inter-dependence,” according to Kim Marie Weimer of the Evolutionary Astrology Network, in a recent lecture on the topic of Jupiter in Libra.

While we all have before us the potential “to achieve new equalities—racial, gender, economic, religious, and the balancing of self vs. other(s),” we also must watch for the distortions in our partnerships, which may include “selfishness, extremes, war, patriarchal grabs, and violence,” Weimer explains.

Crucial to the message of this Libra New Moon is how self-reliance and honesty with oneself promote our ability to relate to others as equals and to forge alliances free from power struggles, disillusionment, and confusion. Weimer suggests that Jupiter in Libra will help us instead to recognize “we are all in it together, honoring self-needs [as] equal to another’s needs.”

LIBRA NEW MOON HEART/MIND ALIGNMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Libra New Moon’s separation from Jupiter bestows a kiss of luck upon the new couple, who not only receive this anointment from the great benefic Jupiter, but a boost from their approaching sextile to Saturn as well…

This sextile to Saturn is what presents us with our opportunity, as a sextile is always an aspect that can increase our ability to seize the day–as long as we’re cognizant that this is so.

Saturn is always about maturation, and maturity often comes only at the expense of hard work. Whether that work entails learning from one’s mistakes en route to following a pathway toward success, or simply putting one’s shoulder to the wheel and pushing it uphill, there is always exertion involved.

The Libra New Moon’s sextile to Saturn portends an easier route, or flow if you will, toward that maturation. In other words, you have the wind behind your sails as you attempt to bring your heart and mind into alignment vis-à-vis the subject of your relationships.

The biggest fly in the ointment becomes the Libra New Moon’s square to Mars, along with the red planet’s square to Jupiter as well…a little self-discipline wouldn’t hurt, as Venus-ruled Libra New Moon might otherwise be prone to a bit of excess born of frustration with any particular partnership.

Seeing red might bring about a confrontation with another that’s long overdue, but anger for the sake of itself will not solve any long term problems. Be mindful that it pays to look at where you’ve been compromising too much for the sake of partnership and of blaming another for letting the issue(s) go on for too long…

This Libra New Moon ask us to get creative in finding the kind of middle ground that won’t leave us frustrated and angry in the long-term…

LIBRA NEW MOON OPPORTUNITY: FALL IN LOVE—WITH YOURSELF!

Those of us who dream of soul mates and miraculous partnerships made in heaven, it’s usually good to remember that all relationships represent parts of ourselves that we attract to ourselves in the form of another.

These are the bits and pieces of our personalities about which we are unconscious–and one of the best roads toward consciousness is when we can see ourselves through the eyes of another.

To be made more fully aware of who we really are is the true gift of any partnership—be it a relationship with a significant other, our family members, friends, colleagues, or higher up authority figures.

So this Libra New Moon reminds us that it’s time to start anew and plant a seed of loving oneself first before one can truly love another. It also reminds us that every relationship has a lesson for us because it teaches us more about ourselves.

The issue of whether or not relationships are meant to last is often a moot point disregarded by those hell bent on finding their true soul mate.

This Libra New Moon’s quincunx to Neptune and the South Node in Pisces indicates that although relationships are important, adjustments must be made to bring your attention back down to earth and to the most impactful relationship you can possibly have: the one with yourself!

THIS is the partnership that needs the most attention, because cultivating self-love first allows you to see this love reflected back to you in the eyes (and behavior!) of another.

In turn, this kind of loving partnership with another brings you the opportunity to continually learn about yourself, grow in consciousness, and love yourself even more…

Here’s a fun video to help remind you to keep the focus on YOU within relationship when you might otherwise distort your view of a partnership and blame (or love!) only the other…remember it’s possible to start evaluating your relationship with yourself FIRST and then move onward and outward to others:

Love, Will, & The Libra Full Moon Eclipse

As the Moon waxed toward full, less than 24 hours before the horrific terrorist events in Brussels, Belgium yesterday that left 31 dead and 270 injured, Mercury the messenger sped into the sign of Aries and brought his urgent message to the Sun.

When the ancients looked up at the sky and recognized “as above, so below,” they noted the correlation between celestial meetings and events on Earth. And, based on whether planetary “meetings” were deemed frictional or harmonious by sign and/or aspect, predictions were made. That’s how it was done back in the day…

So, in olden days, Mercury’s haste to catch up with the Sun (a.k.a., the KING) in Aries, the sign of action, especially on the eve of the Libra Full Moon eclipse, would have gotten greater notice by court astrologers as a potential declaration of some kind. In Aries, it’s always possible the message is one of war…

Am I One Of Many Or Many Of One?

It’s clear that war has been brewing in many places around the world in recent times. From large U.S. cities to nations in the Middle East, one does not have to travel far to find those who feel disenfranchised, outcast, ignored, and disrespected these days.

In the wake of the Pluto/Uranus square of recent years—who’s revolutionary energy is clearly still in play–the message is clear: Ignore us at your peril…

When individuals feel dis-empowered, unheard, and demeaned, their helplessness can turn to hopelessness. And in that hopelessness, one individual may find comfort in banding together with others who share the same emotional despair.

The result? The kind of mind-numbing violence witnessed yesterday, witnessed in Paris last November, witnessed in New York City on 9/11, and witnessed in many places around the world many times over the past few years…and let’s not forget that those who perpetrate these crimes often violently end their own lives as well.

“The individual…forced to turn inward…becomes obsessed with the new form of identity, namely Even-if-I-Know-Who-I-am, I-have-no-significance. I am unable to influence others. For no human being can stand the perpetually numbing experience of his own powerlessness.” ~ Rollo May, Love & Will

Partnership Vs. Going It Alone

“We must unite in the face of terrorism,” declared U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday on the eve of the Libra Full Moon Eclipse after terrorists struck Belgium’s Brussels Airport and a downtown metro station yesterday.

“We can and will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of people all around the world,” he added.

Libra = Partnership

Aries = Independent Action

The Sun moved into Aries at the Spring Equinox on March 20, heralding spring in the northern hemisphere and changing up the more languid energy of the planetary pile up in Pisces from late February to late March.

Libra Full Moon Eclipse Between 3-4 Degrees Of Libra

Chiron was, and is still, conjoined in the sky with the transiting South Node at this Libra Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, which occurred at 8:01 a.m. ET. The presence here of Chiron, the Wounded Healer in Greek mythology, indicates that both individuals’ wounds AND the wounds of those who make up the collective–in this lifetime and the karmic past–must be acknowledged and brought out into the light to be healed.

That’s a tall order, no? How do we each do our part?

We can start by recognizing the humanity in every individual; the similarities between others and their situations and ours, and the capacity for compassion.

When our own wounds are revealed and we’re able to experience and express self-compassion (rather than criticism or judgment) then we may extend such thinking to others.

When we judge and condemn others whose circumstances are beyond our scope of recognition, how can we become anything but an instrument onto which those judged and condemned will focus their hate?

“It is funny that men who are supposed to be scientific cannot get themselves to realize the basic principle of physics, that action and reaction are equal and opposite, that when you persecute people you always rouse them to be strong and stronger.” ~ Gertrude Stein

War & Peace

For whatever reason, it made sense to me to post the lyrics and link to Pete Townsend’s song “See Me,” by The Who, as–on some level at least–it feels like the battle cry of the disenfranchised pleading to be taken seriously…

“See me…feel me…touch me…heal me…”

And, if and when that should occur, the result can be the possibility of reconciliation and understanding of others’ perspectives and ideas.

Don’t get me wrong–terrorists are not people who need to be forgiven for acts of violence committed against innocents.

Rather, such deeds stand as our opportunity to bridge the gap between “us and them” through introducing new ideas and potential solutions that excite, challenge, and make feel included, rather than excluded, empowered rather than dis-empowered, the disenfranchised…MORE than their unoriginal idea of more killing stands as their opportunity to prove their own insignificance…

The Sun and Mercury in Aries, along with Chiron and this Libra Full Moon Eclipse, ask us to release the wounds that cause us to judge and want to fight fire with fire, and instead to motivate ourselves to come up with ways in which those who want to make war can be lead down the path to peace…

“Listening to you, I get the musicGazing at you, I get the heatFollowing you, I climb the mountainI get excitement at your feet…Right behind you, I see the millionsOn you, I see the gloryFrom you, I get opinionsFrom you, I get the story…”

When Venus enters Sagittarius on December 30, the “lesser benefic” travels through the sign ruled by the “greater benefic.”

What does this mean?

Well, ultimately Venus, the goddess of love & beauty, harmony & peace (known in traditional astrology as the “lesser benefic”) is about values.

And Sag? Well, Sagittarius–ruled by “greater benefic” Jupiter–is about expansion.

While Venus has to do with relationships to people & things that we value, Sagittarius is an all-inclusive consciousness expansion-oriented energy.

While expansion of knowledge through the world around us is positive, it pays to remember that expansion is not always a good thing (as anyone like me who’s still partaking of the holiday festival’s sweet goodies can attest!)

So what do you get when you put these two archetypes together?

Expansion Of That Which You Value–How Much Is Too Much?

Scenario #1: Too much of a good thing! Or, as I like to say, a time when it benefits us each to consider “how much is too much?” Do we need all those relationships and/or all that stuff?

Or might we be better off discerning (especially while the Moon is in Virgo these next two days!) exactly what is of real value to us and what is simply, well, you know…extra stuff?

Scenario #2: Love of expansion through travel—both literal and of the mind—into territory that leaves us with a new perspective, wiser, more experienced, & with a greater understanding of the world around us. Love of all-inclusive experiences, rather than those that limit us.

If you find yourself overspending, overeating, or simply overdoing things right now, you may chalk it up to the fact that it isn’t even New Year’s Eve yet & so you’re still entitled to enjoy yourself & party (and imbibe) with the rest of ‘em!

Come January however, when the dust settles, you’ll want to rein in some of that “party forever!” fervor but keep the positive attitude…and replace it with your love of all things Sagittarian: open-minded curiosity about life and other cultures, & travel–all in the spirit of expanding your world.

Venus’s Ride Through Sagittarius

On January 5, the day Mercury stations retrograde (more on that anon), Venus will square Neptune in the sky. This can be a time of high creativity when you might pour all of your romantic longings into writing the most poetic of sonnets, painting the dreamiest of pictures, singing sweetly, creating pleasing instrumental music, or dancing, photographing, etc. In short, engaging in any artistic/creative endeavor.

When the goddess of beauty & love bumps into Saturn on January 8 & 9, it may be time to come back down into the world of hard cold reality. This is not bad, however, depending on how far afield your fantasies strayed when Venus squared Neptune!

If you created some beauty in the world around you, the Venus/Saturn meet up can ground & manifest that beauty in concrete form.

However, if you “fell in love” with that new sofa (or person!), then got it home & realized it didn’t match the rest of your décor, you may be in for some disillusionment or a mini-fall from Cloud 9. (Caution! With Mercury retrograde by this point, you may not have read the small print saying you cannot return it!)

This is not a negative occurrence as long as it teaches you something. Sagittarius energy is always about teaching us so that we may expand our consciousness. While Venus transits through Sag, we’re taught about how our philosophy of life translates into that which we value.

On January 12 Venus trines the great awakener Uranus, and we skate into a little adventure in order to liven up a potentially dreary January winter’s day.

Engage in something new, something a bit more exciting than the regular dull & normal routine—but understand it’s a “just for the moment” energy that will not last. Nevertheless, enjoy doing something spontaneous and/or new!

Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?

Finally, Venus squares Jupiter (anyone see the mixture of Venus/Sag archetypes again here??) on January 18, putting to the test once again the question of “how much is too much?”

Over-indulging is again a potential energy prevalent in this square—as is general laziness—but no harm done if you are aware of the others around you, at least most of the time, lol…

Venus rules two signs: The sign of Taurus, the key words for which are serenity & pleasure, because Taurus rules the body & the five senses. That which pleases us we give value.

Libra rules relationships and social niceties. The key words for Libra are harmony, balance, & equality. A Libra concerns herself with the environment around her and the people in it, hoping for pleasing communication & relations.

A Libra knows exactly where the spoons go in the place setting and that the knife must be placed inward in order to avoid unnecessary injury (except when Venus is in Scorpio, that is! Bwahahahaha! Just kidding…)

Wherever You Go, There You Are…

The shadow side of Venus is resistance to change. The shadow side of Sagittarius is arrogance. Thinking not only that one knows it all, but that one may lord her knowledge over others is not the way to go…

When Venus enters Sagittarius, enjoy the ride. But don’t forget to remind yourself of your inner value, & that you don’t need to have that value reflected back to you in all that own, control, manipulate, or accrue.

Instead, when Venus enters Sagittarius, it’s far better to understand that your sense of self-worth is not simply within you, but around you as the external manifestation (be it through relationships, jobs, material objects, etc.) of your inner sense of self-value. Only then can you moderate the expansion of the world around you to reflect back to yourself your true inner worth…

Understanding this is the key gift you may look forward to when the greater & lesser benefics come together as Venus enters Sagittarius…

Namaste…

P.S.Here’s a little reminder that we all feel like orphans at times…but that when love doesn’t originate from within, we all become imprisoned by our external quest for it:

Social niceties go out the door in favor of pure passion as Venus enters Scorpio December 5 and exits Libra, the sign of partnership, balance, compromise, & negotiation.

In Scorpio she becomes less sweet but more passionate, less agreeable and more persistent, less worried about fitting in and more fearless.

In short, Venus in Scorpio is far more apt to shock others through socially unacceptable behavior &/or taboo conversation!

This is the Scarlett O’Hara of energetic combinations, apt to rip velvet curtains off their rods in order to create a fine gown—and the illusion of wealth—to sweetly manipulate Rhett Butler into helping her family’s plantation thrive once again…

It takes a lot to see through these kinds of manipulations, so during the better part of this month from now until December 30, be on the lookout for your own behavior—or that of others—to take on greater intensity.

Passion, persistence, and pushing the boundaries of what your immediate society considers morally and socially acceptable behavior—particularly in the areas of sex and money!—is the order of the day…

They say the sign change from Libra to Scorpio is one of the most striking in that Libra energy, while it may prove indecisive, is usually concerned with making everyone happy. Scorpio energy, in contrast to culminating calm, likes to stir the pot, often just for the fun of it…
So “mixing it up” in relationship is to be expected during this period, as Venus in Scorpio can range from simple suggestive flirting to manipulation of giant proportions.

If you’re being chased by somebody Scorpionic now (or during December), it’s likely a do or die proposition to them. It’s just as likely, too, when Scorpio energy tangles with the goddess of love, that professing undying loyalty is the name of the game.

Unrequited Love

While some people thrive on this kind of drama in their love life, others sing about it…

Scorpio-influenced Bruno Mars (Pluto & South Node in Scorpio on his Midheaven, & Moon square Pluto) gives voice to this kind of “I’d die for you” energy in his song “Grenade”:

“To give me all your love is all I ever asked,‘Cause what you don’t understandIs I’d catch a grenade for you”Throw my hand on a blade for youI’d jump in front of a train for youYou know I’d do anything for you

Oooh, I would go through all this painTake a bullet straight right through my brainYes, I would die for you, baby,But you won’t do the same…”

When you mix the two archetypes of Venus & Pluto (ruler of Scorpio)–as happens when Venus in Scorpio occurs–you get a recipe that stands a good chance of creating love triangles.

And J. Geils Band–here in what must be one of the first music videos ever (haha)–show themselves to be the epitome of 1970’s big hair boy bands in their classic song “Love Stinks!”

Check it out, but don’t laugh too hard, just listen to the lyrics, lol

“I rejected the girl who had a crush on me cause I was chasing a girl who loved someone else. That girl I was chasing found out that her lover was gay. She went to me because she regretted rejecting me and wanted to date. It was too late for her because I fell in love with that girl who had a crush on me. Too late for me cause that girl fell in love with some guy who cheats on her. Much drama. Such love. It stinks.”

The Libra New Moon ushers in roughly two weeks during which we are presented with the opportunity to go deep — about our partnerships — the most important one of which is our relationship to SELF..

With Mercury in Libra until November 2, and Venus in Virgo until November 8, this Libra New Moon provides us the archetypal energy necessary to delve seriously into how our partnerships mirror back to us our very own energies.

However, what’s most important to understand about Libra’s archetypal energy is that it’s always inherently aware of “the other.”

This awareness necessarily leads to understanding “as within, so without,” which in turn allows us to see our true selves through the energetic makeup of someone else…

And it’s our acceptance or rejection of the energies of those around us — and with whom we choose to partner — that tells the tale of true enlightenment!

That’s What She Said…

So what about when “the other” projects back to you stuff you don’t like?

Do you continue to try to change him or her? Or do you assume the only way to relate is to let them walk all over you?

Common sense dictates that many of us fall somewhere in between these two extremes, and that our choices vary throughout our lives, depending on our age and stage.

Transiting Uranus opposite this New Moon may lead to sudden departures in relationships, or — better yet — sudden realizations and aha! moments where all was cloudy but NOW all is clear…

These revelations, regardless of how and about whom they manifest, are meant to teach you more about yourself…

As we move forward toward our highest karmic destiny — which is to know ourselves so that we may love and accept ourselves for who we really are — it benefits us to realize that we discover exactly who we are by using others as our mirror.

And instead of alternately being horrified, hurt, saddened, embarrassed, enraged, or (fill in the blank), we may recognize instead that the words and actions of others stem from within — ourselves!

While this is such a bitter pill for many of us to swallow, swallow it we must if we are interested in growth in consciousness.

Anything that helps provide us with greater knowledge about ourselves in turn allows us to feel compassion.

And when we show compassion to ourselves, we manifest it out in the world in the form of others capable of expressing such compassion back to us…

“So then, the relationship of self to the other is the complete realization that loving yourself is impossible without loving everything defined as other than yourself.”~ Alan Watts

Think about it: This makes hatred virtually impossible!

When you truly “get” that your shadow side is repressed and then projected out onto others and comes back to you in the form of their words and actions, then you understand why acceptance & love for all beings is important:

Namely because when you accept others for who and what they are, you recognize THEIR energies as your own…

And when this happens, you consciously (or unconsciously!) accept (love, forgive, have compassion for) yourself…

But as Mercury moves forward in the sign of partnership until November 8, It’s still about relationships!

Why?

Well, the god of communication is still in the sign of partnership (until November 8), calling us (haha) to move forward after rethinking and/or reviewing our partnerships during his retrograde period in Libra…

Whether or not this review resulted in positive movement forward or in the ending of a partnership (or anywhere in between!), we must always remember that any partner we choose (be it a significant other, relative, friend, colleague, etc.) will project back to us our own internal energies.

So, if we are not getting what we want from (or out of) a partnership, it behooves us to ask ourselves “why?” (Yes, a Virgo Rising, I am the “why” gal!)

Let’s look at this logically: If Mercury represents communication and Libra is about not feeling whole without partnerships, then how can we move forward and focus on our most important partnership?

Ah, now you’re thinking all kinds of things! Maybe you’re recounting the conversation you had during Mercury retro when you cleared the air with your significant other about something you’d been holding inside for a long time …

…or perhaps a friend did the same with you during this period…

Either way, the important part is that it held a mirror up to YOU and allowed you to better see who you really are within relationships…

And THAT’S what Mercury’s retrograde in Libra was all about!

So, give yourself an “A” if you discovered something about the way you communicate with others during this period. If you learned that there’s greater value in communicating what you really want to another REGARDLESS of how that might change the relationship, then you’ve got it!

If you did not feel as badly as you thought you might when you spoke your truth, then you may be learning the lesson that communicating your true feelings to another is a MORE important mission than that of the partnership itself…

It’s Really About Your Relationship With Yourself, Stupid!

The bottom line? It’s your relationship with yourself that comes first, not your relationship with another…

The other is merely an external manifestation of your inner energies (in human form!)

This may be difficult to get your mind around and, if you’re at all like me, you may lose sight of this thought often enough to need periodic reminding…

But the reality (haha again) is that it all begins and ends with YOU.

You are the creator and the potential destroyer of your relationships.

When you hide your emotions–whatever the reason–you are not expressing your true self. And to do anything less and then expect a whole relationship with another does not cut it for the long term.

When we accept less than we deserve then we are selling ourselves short…so why not look at what we deserve before we enter willy-nilly into a new partnership or compromise ourselves to death in an existing one?

Mercury Retrograde’s True Purpose?

The true purpose of Mercury retrograde is to suspend empirical logical learning and to use these three weeks 3-4 times annually to allow already learned information to incorporate itself into your psyche and become knowledge in the form of WISDOM…

In turn, during this period the psyche allows information from your innate, inherent warehouse of wisdom to float up into the conscious brain and embed itself there as KNOWLEDGE…

K, got it?

See where you can look back from September 17 to October 9 and recognize that about which you’ve become wise…

…and that what you realize (consciously NOW!) is stuff you’ve KNOWN all along…

This meeting place is where you are right now!

Every transit and movement of the planets around your natal chart’s energies represents an opportunity for you to learn and grow in consciousness, which is to say become WISER and more mature…

Understanding ourselves through others is THE lesson inherent in relationship. Period.